Muhyiddin: I was not an arrogant MB

PETALING JAYA: Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has put up a lengthy Facebook posting to dispel talk that he was “arrogant” during his time as Johor Mentri Besar.

This came about following Johor Ruler Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar’s speech at an event on Thursday when he spoke about Johor’s progress.

“This success is due to the good relationship I have with Mentri Besar Datuk Mohamed Khaled Nordin, unlike the previous two (mentris besar) who were haughty and arrogant and always followed the Federal Government’s instructions,” Sultan Ibrahim said.

Although the Ruler made no mention of his name, Muhyiddin said many people felt that it was addressed to him.

“Your Royal Highness knows I have never acted haughty or arrogant.

“When I was Mentri Besar and Your Royal Highness was Pemangku Raja, our relationship was very close,” he wrote in his posting.

Muhyiddin, who is Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia president, said he had no intention of being disloyal to Sultan Ibrahim but he merely wanted to clear his name from perceptions that he was arrogant.

Muhyiddin was Johor MB from 1986 to 1995, followed by Tan Sri Abdul Ghani Othman (1995 to 2013). Khaled took over from 2013. “Your Royal Highness had shared with me many issues relating to the governance of the state and I have managed Johor to become among the most developed states of the time,” he said.

Muhyiddin also countered the view that the state government had no money to pay salaries of civil servants then.

Instead, he said the state expenses were well managed, adding that Johor Economic Development Corporation was among the most successful in the country.

Muhyiddin claimed that he was only labelled arrogant after being sacked as Deputy Prime Minister because he had opposed Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Furthermore, he said he had raised objections over the sale of freehold land in Forest City to non-Malaysians.

“If I am said to be arrogant because I fight to uphold the truth and against evil for the sake of defending the interests of the people and country, then let the people make their judgement,” he said.